Orange County Digest

Local News in Brief : Yacht Catches Fire at Harbor Entrance

A 43-foot yacht en route from Marina del Rey to Newport Harbor for a potential sale caught fire at the harbor entrance Tuesday, burning for 25 minutes before Orange County Harbor Patrol boats could put out the blaze.

Fire erupted in the engine hold of the vessel as the operator, Irwin Sperling of Los Angeles, throttled back upon reaching the harbor jetty, Sheriff's Lt. Jay Mendez said.

The sheriff's Harbor Patrol boats rushed to the scene and put out the blaze, which caused an estimated $30,000 damage to the $200,000 yacht, Mendez said. There were no reported injuries. The yacht was towed to a Harbor Patrol slip, where it remained late Tuesday.